Othello+Act+1

Act One Othello:
Plot Outline

Act 1 scene I: Iago reveals his grudge against Othello and convinces Roderigo to tell Brabantio that his daughter has eloped with the Moor.

Act 1 scene II: Iago warns Othello of Brabantio’s anger. Cassio arrives to tell Othello that a war council has been called. Brabantio then arrives ready to fight Othello. Othello swears his love for Desdemona is true.

Act 1 scene III: Othello is charged with leading the Venetians to victory against the Turks. Othello and Desdemona publicly vow their love for each other. Iago privately assures Roderigo that he will have his shot at Desdemona, proclaims his hate for Othello, and considers plans to make Othello jealous of Cassio.

Journal prompts, focus questions - during reading
 * Act 1 Scene I **
 * 1) What is it that Roderigo and Iago are talking about?
 * 2) Why have Iago and Roderigo summoned Barbantio?
 * 3) What do you know about Othello at this point?
 * 4) How does Barbantio feel about Othello?
 * 5) What is it that Barbantio asks Roderigo to do?
 * 6) What was the problem with the marriage between Othello and Barbantio’s daughter?
 * 7) What differences exist between Othello and Barbantio?
 * 8) What do you believe will happen when Barbantio confronts Othello?

Act 1 scene III **
 * At 1 Scene 2 **
 * 1) // What is it that Barbantio accuses Othello of? //
 * 2) // Who are Iago and Othello talking about at the beginning of the scene? //
 * 3) // What is the relationship between Othello and Barbantio? //
 * 4) // if you were Othello what would you say to Barbantio? //
 * 5) // if you were Barbantio what would you say to Othello? //
 * 6) // Do you believe Iago that he wanted to kill Barbantio for speaking against Othello? //
 * 7) // what do you think is going to happen at the council //
 * 8) // what would happen if Barbantio refuses to accept his daughters marriage? //
 * 9) // Write in your own words what Barbantio says to Othello. //
 * 1) // Why are the duke and senators meeting in the council chamber? //
 * 2) //If Othello was not so important to the security of// //Venice// //how do you think the scene may have changed?//
 * 3) // What is it that Barbantio accuses Othello of doing to his daughter? //
 * 4) // Why do you think the Duke wanted Barbantio to hear his daughter’s side of the story? //
 * 5) // What is is that Desdemona tells her father? //
 * 6) // What would you say if you were Desdemona and why? //
 * 7) // Why does barbantio believe that Desdemona has deceived him? //
 * 8) // What does this foreshadow when Barbantios says “she has deceived her father and may thee.” //
 * 9) // Do you believe Othello and Desdemona are truly in love? Explain //
 * 10) // Why do you think Shakespeare decided to put in the conversation between iago and Roderigo? //
 * 11) // What is it that Iago and Roderigo are plotting during their conversation. //

====//**Lesson Outline for 1 scene**// ** Pre-Reading: The Dating Game ** ** Introducing… Bachelorette Desdemona! ** Desdemona is the daughter of a senator. A young woman, barely 18 years old, Desdemona has spent all the years of her young life under the care and guidance of her father and tutors who have been hired to teach her at her lavish home. While she’s been a student who studies hard and gets good grades, she has been known to stay out late dancing, sometimes sneaking in and out of the house to avoid her father’s curfew and strict rules. On some of these secret nights out, Desdemona occasionally challenges the young people she parties with to arm-wrestling competitions and exchanges of jokes. Desdemona likes a good story; novels of romance and adventure are her favorite. She also reads travel books avidly. Her fair white skin, lush locks of hair, and overall beauty have caught the eye of many young men, but Desdemona is a self-possessed person; she doesn’t plan to enter into any relationship lightly. While Desdemona knows that she needs to keep her father’s reputation in mind, she is determined to find someone who is just right for herself. ** Desdemona’s Father, Senator Brabantio ** The Senator, a man of Italian descent, has worked hard to provide a good life for his only daughter, Desdemona. He is extremely protective of her, imposing 9:00 curfews on her and keeping her at home for school. He envisions that Desdemona should marry well—only the best will do—and he’s determined that she remain at home until such a time as her future husband is prepared to support her. The Senator has been a long-time supporter of family values, fiscal responsibility, and keeping the country well-protected with strong armed forces. His reputation as a public figure is of extreme importance; in the last election, he asked Desdemona to be present as he campaigned as an example of what good parenting can accomplish. ==== ** Your job is to figure out which of the following bachelors would make the best match for Desdemona. Then, make three (3) or more predictions about what might happen if Desdemona did have a relationship with the bachelor you picked. ** Michael is a lieutenant in the army. He is white, young—about 20, and he’s an inexperienced soldier, but he’s well-educated, a privilege afforded to him because he comes from a wealthy family. Michael is well-known for his good looks and his friendliness. He’s a good listener and likes to have his fun. Recently, Michael had a bit too much of a good time when he got drunk and started fighting with others at the bar. However, he is well-liked by others in his company, and of course, by admiring young ladies. Ian is twenty-eight years old. He’s made his career in the army, but has recently been passed over for a promotion to lieutenant. Ian is free with giving advice to those around him and is quite wise in the ways of the world. An extremely persuasive personality, Ian is the guy you go to if you have a problem or need something done; he can convince almost anyone to do anything. Ian likes to play pranks on others. Once he set up an acquaintance to think that his car had been stolen; Ian didn’t let the guy in on the joke until three days later. In terms of love, Ian has had two long-term relationships, but the last one didn’t end well and the woman eventually needed to get a restraining order against him so that he’d stop calling her, stop coming over, and stop sending her unwanted love letters, stuffed animals, chocolates, flowers, and singing telegrams. William is a Christian Moor—a person whose ancestors were Arabic and African descendants who conquered Spain in the 8th century. The dark-skinned William is an army general who is eloquent and physically powerful. He is middle-aged, around 35 years old, and he’s spent almost his entire life fighting. This man is a warrior, but this aspect of his life also is cause for some insecurities. While he’s generally well-respected by those around him, he’s definitely a foreigner who is not accustomed to the society Desdemona and the other bachelors belong to. At a recent political fundraiser, William asked to dance with a young woman without understanding or caring that she was engaged to another man. William is not accustomed to a civilian way of life. While he possesses a free and open nature that makes him approachable, he is a general who has a long history of needing to make quick and critical decisions. Robert is quite young, 18, and very rich. A member of an exclusive country club, Robert is certain that his money can buy him anything, including the affections of any woman he wants. He often listens to the advice of others, but has no clue which advice isn’t good for him. He throws money around pretending to be big and important, but instead ends up letting others just exploit him. He has a thing for young, rich, educated women; in a personal ad that Robert placed in the local newspaper a few months ago, he stated that he needs someone “who will look good on my arm.” Whoever he hooks up with needs to be totally faithful, for Robert suffers from terrible jealousy. Oliver is a Moor who has chosen a career in the army. Already high in rank and an experienced fighter, Oliver’s army career has given him the opportunity to see many different places and people; however, he is most comfortable and familiar with Desdemona’s home town. Oliver is still relatively young, around 25, and quite the gentleman. Those around him look up to him as a leader. He’s not always totally conventional; he’s been known to break some rules, especially where women and their fathers are concerned. There is a rumor that Oliver recently dated a young woman whose father did not approve of their relationship, and Oliver habitually kept her out past curfew. However, he would like to settle down near his future wife’s family, especially until their relationship has had several months to grow.
 * Bachelor #1—Michael **
 * Bachelor #2—Ian **
 * Bachelor #3—William **
 * Bachelor #4—Robert **
 * Bachelor #5—Oliver **

==== To begin reading the play the first scene will be read by the teacher. This will be done before the students are given the text. The teacher will have the scene on OHT’s and lead the students through the scene stopping at different points. This will be done to get students used to how the text is spoken. The teacher will have words underlined that the students may not know and after each stopping point the teacher will then go back to those words. The class will discuss what the words mean and why and how they are used. The teacher will write up the definition on the board. Also at each stopping the point the students will be given questions. The students will have groups of four that they will be working in. In these groups the students will be responsible for discussing and answering questions given at each stopping point. After each group has finished there will be a class discussion. Each student is responsible for writing down the questions and answers in their work book as their notes. ====

Questions
Stoppting point 1. Go back to Iagos first monologue and rewrite as you would say it. Stopping p[oint 2 If Iago were your mate and you found out he had been talking behind your back about you in such an evil way how would you deal with it? What if Barbantio had been ok with the marriage how do you think Iago would have reacted? Stopping point 3. 1. From what you know about Othello what is your impression of him and why? 2. What do you think about Barbantio and his reaction to the marriage of his daughter and Othello?

At the end of the act have students look at forms of dramatic speech (i.e.: dialogue and monologue) and discuss the differing purposes and functions of each.

Discuss: • Which character recites the monologues? • When? • Why? • What does the monologue reveal about that characterPost-Reading

Post Reading
Have students chose a character from the first scene. With this character students will draw them the way taht they envision them to be if they were here today. They will also be responsible for including a brief commentary about why they decided this. This will be shared in their groups of four and possibly groups of eight.